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Traditionally, suppliers of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems spoke of factory integration as the intimate linking of information processing functions, a formulation which usually boiled down to getting part designers [...]

Zeroes are funny things. Put three or four in front of a number representing parts of an inch and you get some very small dimensions. Put three or four behind [...]

The article discusses importance to evaluate flexibility for cutting tool manufacturers amid COVID-19 pandemic. Topics discussed include information on Sandvik Coromant's insert grades, GC4415 and GC4425, which designed to address challenges in turning operations of ISO P category metals; development to delivering greater flexibility in steel turning; and evaluation of the steel turning insert grades.

The article offers information on C&A Tool Engineering Inc., a contract manufacturing company in Churubusco, Indiana. It mentions ideas about manufacturing, his principles of leadership and energetic spirit as an ongoing legacy; and success of C&A is primarily a result of adhering to their principles.

The article discusses a new online method for ordering spools of electrical discharge machining (EDM) wire, launched by Global Initiative Products (GIP) of Mason, Ohio. Topics covered include the benefits of GIP's approach of online ordering for smaller shops, its advantage over other popular retail and consumer shopping sites, and the technical phone support offered by the company.

The article informs about improving machining job shop communication. Topics discussed include processes are especially dependent on getting all the right information from the right sources; information on critical insights into machining processes, cutting tool considerations, workholding and fixturing options; and collaboration is web-enabled, conversations about workpieces can be conducted with remote users on any mobile device.

The article pays attention to perspective of Mike Preston, president and founder of Micron Manufacturing, regarding the company's three disciplines in production management including lean principles, continuous improvement and design for manufacturability. Topics discussed include coordination of production processes, creating localized inspection stations and reducing variability.

The article discusses the U.S. defense contractors on looking for capable shops to supply machined workpieces. Topics include exhibit area and technical sessions about ongoing DOD manufacturing technology (ManTech) programs; annual venue for military, government and industry leaders to conduct business, acquire education; and quality management system which require aviation, space and defense organizations.

'Modern Machine Shop' (MMS) magazine celebrates its 70th anniversary in Jun 1998. The magazine was first published in Jun 1928 when founding publisher Don Gardner and editor Howard Campbell launched a magazine aimed at helping manufacturers resolve their problems. This philosophy is being practiced even today as evidenced by the creation of the MMS Online Web site to better address the needs of MMS readers., This month marks the seventieth anniversary of the first o issue of MODERN MACHINE SHOP, which appeared in June, 1928. When you look back to that first issue, you find [...]

Gotta Have Job Shops Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and other Eastern European countries that are shifting to free market economies are discovering that they desperately need job shops. Until [...]

A Job Shop Network Here's an idea that ought to be copied in other parts of the country: Forty job shops in the middle of New York state have formed [...]

The article offers information about the Amerimold trade show, which was held in June 2017 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, featuring several exhibitors and manufacturing companies with their metalworking technology products and equipment. Companies being mentioned include Takumi, Promac, and Prototrak.

The article features cofounders and co-owners Brad Stuczynski and Brent Barker of aerospace components manufacturer Global Machine Works (GMW). Topics include the overall production philosophy followed by Stuczynski and Barker, the importance of machining cells at GMW to trace the functions of the machine tools, and the teamwork at the company.

The article examines the condition of automotive manufacturing industry. Topics mentioned include investments in retooling and improvement of facilities increase productivity and improve efficiency, overall spending on machine tools, and the application of additive manufacturing processes for the industry. It highlights the Top Shop benchmarking survey on industries primarily served by machine shops, with aerospace, appliances, and automotive on top.

The article focuses on the establishment by Scott Finch of Hydroslice, a job shop which manufactures parts and components that call for the capability of abrasive waterjet technology. Topics covered the advantage of complementing waterjet cutting with other manufacturing processes to cut workpieces, the reason behind Finch's interest in manufacturing and the basics of the waterjet process. Also mentioned are the principles guiding the growth and success of Hydroslice.

The article discusses the upgrade of the deep-hole drilling capability of machine shop Leese & Co. It highlights the company's acquisition of an XY GVN 25/1-100 deep-hole drilling machine from Precihole Machine Tools Pvt. Ltd. and the benefits that it gained following such move. Also provided is information on the machining results at Leese & Co. due to the drilling technology.

This article offers tips from Mark Cicchetti, a wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) technical director for Absolute Machine Tool's Accutex EDM product line, for machine shops on running a wire EDM process without the need of an operator. It discusses the standard or optional features that enable wire machines to operate without the close attention of an operator, the importance of developing a plan for running a wire EDM and the need to discuss the programming software requirements.

The article discusses the zero stock machining practiced by Redoe Mold Co. Ltd. and Eifel Mold & Engineering mold shops. It explains the dedication and discipline of Windsor, Ontario-based Redoe and Frazer, Michigan-based Eifel to routinely mill critical mold surfaces in zero-stock condition. It mentions the benefits of the practice, such as the production of more efficient molds and the reduction of time to verify core alignment, and the differences in the machining strategy in both shops.

The article discusses the open-source communication protocol MTConnect produced by the MTConnect Institute and how it can be used to transform a machine shop into a fully-integrated manufacturing operation. The author mentions that MTConnect has its own set of defined terminology which can be supplemented so that all of the equipment in a shop, regardless of the manufacturer, can communicate using MTConnect.

The article focuses on the top strategy or technology that is implemented by machine shops in the U.S. According to the Top Shops benchmarking survey, respondents appeared to prefer the lights-out machining in which it requires machine shops to be organized, prepared and automated. It states that high speed machining has the biggest influence on the success of some respondents. It also mentions that the striking characteristic of the responses is diversity.

The article features the automated cell at Big Sky EDM, a shop owned by Russ Scoffield in Hayden Lake, Idaho. The author describes smart features of the cell including the part containment baskets and the palletized workpiece holders. He reveals that the cell produces precisely shaped segments of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and cubic boron nitride (CBN) that tooling manufacturers can use as pre-cut tips for form tools.

The article provides information on the operations of Infinity EDM, a wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) shop in Wisconsin. The shop, owned by Rich Marx and Mike Knier, acquired a model FA50V machine from Mitsubishi EDM which can cut workpieces as tall as 25.9 inches partially submerged and 15.5 inches fully submerged. Installed in November 2007, the machine is already busy, although the shop did not have specific jobs lined up for it before delivery.

An interview with Brad Hart, owner of Robert Tools Co., is presented. He details how a move to cellular manufacturing was key to reducing lead times, minimizing labor and maximizing profit. Although aerospace and defense are his competitors, he encourages them to adopt lean, cellular manufacturing. He talks about the appropriate machining cell for machine shops.

The article provides information on the Space Instrument Shop, a machine shop operated by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The shop's mission is to produce components for scientific instruments that allow space vehicles to gather, analyze and transmit information about the earth and other parts of the solar system or beyond. The shop has its own self-contained area in Building 168 at JPL's campus, where more than 5,000 are employed.

The article provides information on how Haas Automation, a machining tool manufacturer based in Oxnard, California, applies the lessons learned from previous projects to improve both factory operations and products. At the beginning of 2007, Haas reported producing more than 12,500 computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools in 2006. The history of the machine shop is presented.

The article offers information on the machining company Eclipse Mold. The company has a mold shop that produces 140 molds or so a year, but that business, which includes a substantial mold repair service, represents only 40 percent of the total. Eclipse Mold builds tooling for these presses at its main plant and headquarters in Clinton Township, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, Michigan.

The article offers information on the machine shop Pro Mold & Die located in Roselle, Illinois. The mold shop knows how to machine to zero, although the shop usually refers to the process as net machining. All of the right technology is in place, the appropriate machine tools and a computer software.

The article discusses the advantages of advanced machining technology for machine shops. Such a technology enables mold shops to produce cores and cavities without leaving extra stock. Shops that produce plastic injection molds are discovering that today's metal-working technology allows them to bypass some of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of mold production.

This article states that following a sustained period of growth, 600 Group subsidiary Gamet Bearings has invested in a new grinding cell to increase capacity, improve bearing accuracy, reduce costs and improve both process consistency and customer satisfaction. In the specialized world of high-precision tapered roller bearings, Colchester, England-based Gamet Bearings is one of the world leaders. With technology originally developed in France and transferred to the United Kingdom by the 600 Group more than 50 years ago, Garnet has become the premier supplier of these bearings to numerous machine tool builders and other specialized applications.

The article focuses on the workflow developments achieved by Alro Machine, a machine shop in Lindenhurst, New York, with their implementation of an M40-G multi-process machine from WFL Millturn Technologies. The machine reduced cycle time in the shop's production of helicopter spindle nuts. The machine also minimized the production costs incurred by Alro due to its modified chamfering tool under programmed command, taking advantage of the machine's ability to index the part in the spindle. INSETS: Power, Not Speed;Five Favorite Features.

Focuses on the use of computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems by Krieger Machine Co. in numerically controlling its milling machines and machining centers. Background of the implementation of shopfloor conversational programming system in the company; Application of the KeyCreator CAD software from Kubotek USA and the Mastercam CAM software from CNC software by the company; Benefits of the combination of CAD, CAM and shopfloor programming to the company.

Provides information on Garrity Tool Co., which specializes in close tolerance machining for the aerospace, defense, automotive and medical industries. Key to the machine shop's ability to be both competitive and profitable; Management and leadership style of Don Garrity, founder and chief executive officer of the shop; Details of its operations.

Focuses on the adoption of electrical discharge machining (EDM) by a Ryer Industries LLC shop in Temecula, California to advance its metal injection molding (MIM) process. MIM processing techniques that directly benefit EDM; Description of the MIM process; Other equipment implemented at the shop.

Presents information on the standard for the exchange of product (STEP) numerical control (NC) that enables a product model database to serve as direct input to a CNC machine tool. Benefits of STEP NC to computer numerical control machine shops; Forecast of STEP Tools Inc. on STEP NC; Features of STEP NC.

Focuses on the high speed horizontal machining centers at the truck transmission plant of Eaton Corp. in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Benefits derived by operators and programmers from the machining centers; Features of the truck transmission at the plant; Improvements at Eaton attributed to the machining centers.

Features Primeway Tool & Engineering, a 25-man job shop in Madison Heights, Michigan. History of the shop; Use of electrical discharge machining (EDM); Other machining methods used; Customers; Flushing as the top concern with EDM; Wire EDM.

Desktop Manufacturing Desktop manufacturing is bound to get a lot of interest. It promises to revolutionize the way we go about making small numbers of relatively small workpieces. It's the [...]

The article highlights a number of uses for adhesives and sealants in machine design and part production described by German adhesives and sealants manufacturer Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. They include joining and sealing dissimilar substrates in machine design, bed and frame construction, and incorporating and joining plastics, composites and other lightweight materials with conventional materials. Such applications are expected to yield superior performance, lower cost and greater versatility.

This article reports that the installation of pressurized hydrostatic ways on a computer numerical control grinder improve its accuracy and flexibility. The Swiss-based company Kellenberger mentions that such installation can be costly to machine builders but the resulting benefit justifies the expense. Hydrostatic ways are also mentioned as being offered by Kellenberger, a part of the Hardinge Group, as standard feature on the X and Z axes of its Kel-Varia universal grinders and other models.

The article discusses the application of the electrical discharge machining (EDM) process for drilling small holes in hard materials. It highlights the move of drilling equipment supplier Current EDM Inc. to design software and hardware upgrades that enhance the ability of its equipment to detect when the electrode breaks out of the bottom of a hole. An overview of the Current EDM RT6050 product is provided.

In this article the author talks about team thinking to helps Donson machine with nickel alloy ventilator part production. Topics discussed CNC machines on your shop floor, but you need a shop floor workforce with the flexibility, capability and productivity to match, and the ventilator components are just different enough from past work that the shop wanted to be sure it brought the best collective thinking to bear for ramping up production and deploying its most valuable asset.

Discusses the importance of water quality in metal working processes. Recommendations of Bob Trivett, a senior chemist at Pico Chemical Corp., for machine shops that are using coolants and fluids; Goal of a water treatment program; Approach to developing a program.

Focuses on the implications of the U.S. Jobs & Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 for the manufacturing industry. Benefits to machine shops; Advantage of acquiring metalworking technology; Background on the expensing provision of the act.

In this article, the author discusses the evolution of the journal over the years, citing commemoration of 90th anniversary of the periodical. He states changes introduced by the journal like use of digital technology, and notes that the periodical is an early adopter of the reader service card for subscribers. He notes the journal's reporting on computerization of machine tools, and cites his personal journey associated with the journal.

The article offers information for machine shop owners when it comes to launching a new industrial revolution in their own shop or plant. Several topics being mentioned include the application of the digital technology in the business and manufacturing process as well as the implementation of machine monitoring and comprehensive preventive and predictive maintenance program.

The article presents author's comments on the threats related to the Internet-enabled networks in manufacturing plants. It mentions that a chip conveyor can jam or the system failures are the expected risks that every machine shop faces. It focuses on the risk of system failures due to hackers. It mentions that manufacturers are increasingly susceptible to the targets of cyber attacks.

This article offers insights about the culture of metalworking. Machine shop managers consider the cycle of annual shop holidays, feasts and commemorations a significant of life's natural rhythms. These feasts are also instrumental for the culture of metalworking to pass on its values and maintain its pride. All of the days had their own customs or special activities--fun things that symbolized some aspect of the day or event. Enjoying those customs strengthened the feeling of community and togetherness in every shop and plant.

The article features Evans Machining Service, an example of shops at which the owner's pet dogs can also visit. The shop is orderly and tidy. The space under a workbench where the dogs have their beds is neat and clean, too. The dogs get watchful supervision and, naturally, they have to stay out of areas where hazards are a concern. According to Allen Evans, owner of the shop, the dogs are a calming influence and they buffer some of the tensions that arise.

The article discusses the efforts by C & A Tool Engineering Co. of Indiana to make a machined metal logo for the Modern Machine Shop journal. It describes the machining processes and the cutting tool strategies developed by the company in machining the metal logos. It discusses some of the challenges encountered by the company in planning, preparing and performing the project.